🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 28
The Musician’s Injury
“Your handling was fine. It was the best you could do in this situation.”
The elderly doctor, who had taken off his coat, said to Alperil, nervously pressing his lips together.
Alperil couldn’t bring herself to face the wound fully as the bandages were removed, but she could tell that the bleeding, which had previously surged so uncontrollably, had at least slowed down. The doctor continued.
“His temperature is high, which isn’t good. Even if we manage to suture the wound, there’s a risk of infection… I don’t know if we can properly close it. Even if his life is spared… there could be lasting aftereffects…”
Hearing words far more serious than she expected, Alperil stepped back and leaned against the wall as her body weakened. Only then did she feel the sharp, creeping pain from her foot and the muscle aches spreading throughout her body.
The sound of sharp medical tools clinking inside the opened examination kit echoed in the tense room. Triaden, who had brought boiled water and towels, stood next to Alperil.
The handsome young man’s profile was drenched in sweat. Unable to say anything at the sight, Alperil closed her eyes tightly—just as a sudden, shocking question was thrown.
“Did you miss this wound over here?”
The elderly doctor raised Terencio’s left arm in midair, which was quietly groaning.
Where the shirt had been lifted, a long cut ran across his wrist. Alperil, who hadn’t noticed the location of the wound at all, was left speechless, and even Triaden showed a moment of deep concern.
“Please, doctor! He’s a pianist.”
The doctor, still undoing the rest of the clothing, furrowed his brows irritably at Alperil’s words. His experienced hands hovered briefly in the air before pointing to Triaden, who had been waiting quietly.
“Bring the opium and liquor I prescribed last time. The stronger one, among them.”
Damn it, muttering irritably, Triaden walked off. Alperil, seizing the moment, finally spoke up, knowing that in this situation it was better to act than to hesitate.
“I understand he’s had a chronic illness since birth. That…”
Suddenly, she felt a tug on her arm from behind and quickly turned around. Triaden had apparently rushed back and was pulling her toward the corridor leading from the living room.
“Nothing serious, miss. I think it’s better if you come with me.”
“B-But… Lange-sama!”
Bang! She was dragged along so suddenly that the door connecting the corridor slammed shut. Only then did Alperil manage to break free from the grip and shout.
“L-Let go of me!”
“…”
“What are you doing? I just said he has a chronic illness! If the suturing goes wrong because of that—”
“That won’t happen! Don’t interfere, just stay here.”
Ignoring Alperil’s panicked protests, Triaden moved swiftly and efficiently between the corridor and the room, carrying a bottle of strangely colored liquid and medical alcohol.
Approaching Alperil, who was still staring at the closed door in disbelief, he spoke as if filling his uncertain voice with confidence.
“Alpe… Alperil. Listen carefully. You’ve had a doctor examine you before, right? This is no different. Simple. Unnecessary words only cause confusion.”
Her heart sank instantly.
After a moment of silence, Alperil, her eyes wet and unable to speak, shook her head. How humiliating it was to feel so helpless next to the young master.
Perhaps surprised by an answer she could never have expected from such a small, delicate girl, Triaden’s gaze wavered for a moment.
“I… I endured. Sometimes, when it was unbearably painful, I’d think of the serfs who were barefoot in the duchy, driven away saying the illness was contagious… I’d think of my comrades… I never saw a doctor. His Highness sent me to Saint Callem, and… sniff… gave me… uh… medicine. I would mix it into every meal. I thought I should say something in case there was a problem… I’m sorry…”
She hiccupped, trying not to break the dam of her fragile heart any further. Triaden, lifting his trembling lips, cursed under his breath and brushed back his disheveled hair.
“Damn it… then stay here. I’ll help the doctor. You saw earlier His Highness regained consciousness, didn’t you? Nothing will go wrong. The doctor’s still extremely capable.”
His rough comfort didn’t reach her ears. Frustrated, Alperil impulsively stopped him as he tried to open the door again.
“Lange-sama.”
“Yes.”
“…Why were you there earlier?”
Their eyes met. Triaden, although clearly hearing the question, looked at her with empty eyes before disappearing into the room.
She didn’t even bother pondering the reason. After all, this was a merchant’s house, and he had brought the doctor. Even if she had doubted him, she ultimately had no choice but to trust him.
Alperil wiped her tears, letting her wet sleeve hang, and tried to stop the gnawing thoughts. Time, even if it felt like a year, would pass regardless.
When she looked up again, the sun of the new year was rising outside. Only the intermittent clinking of crude medical tools could be heard from inside.
Alperil began whispering a prayer, something she had never done before.
God, this is a person blessed by you. You must have created him long ago, giving him the most precious and valuable heart of all.
Please, save him.
Buried in her small face, whispering constant prayers, Alperil overlooked the fact that from a distance, she might look like a woman simply asleep. A small shadow approached her as if waiting.
Alperil, keeping her head down, didn’t notice the approaching footsteps until cold hands touched her. She flinched.
The small hands clutching the blanket trembled violently. Alperil felt a moment of relief upon seeing the eyes, only to swallow back a startled breath.
It was an ordinary, small child. But the pale, almost lifeless face and sparse hair were not something even commonly seen in the alleys where the poor gathered.
The blanket seemed to have been brought to cover her. As the child’s hands, clutching the thick cloth, dropped suddenly, Alperil quickly blocked the fleeing child.
“Come… here.”
“I-I’m not contagious! Don’t worry.”
The child’s thin voice came from behind a wall. Alperil spoke calmly.
“I didn’t grab you to ask that. It’s okay, come here.”
“…”
“Sorry for rushing in at dawn. You must be scared. Thank you for helping today as well.”
Alperil waited patiently as the child slowly approached. Minutes later, she finally faced the still cautious but gradually closer little girl, letting out a complex sigh.
Goodness… such a tiny girl. Her thin, sparse hair had patches of white but still caught the sunlight here and there.
The sick child’s eyes resembled Triaden’s exactly. Realizing the child’s identity instinctively, Alperil forced a smile and made a place for the child to sit beside her.
“Are you a noble?” the child asked.
“No, speak freely. Though you must show respect to the person inside me.”
Before a strange child, she could no longer wear a deathly expression. For the first time, she could finally assume a position of rest, rubbing her tired eyelids.
“Are you two married?”
Taken aback by the innocent question, Alperil hesitated. The child’s curiosity was admirable, though sometimes inconvenient.
“No. As I said, he’s a noble, I’m not.”
“But you love each other, right?”
The child’s eyes, clear and direct, stared straight at her.
It was a slightly absurd thought for someone of her age, but at that age, it was understandable. While she considered how to explain to a girl caught up in fairy-tale fantasies, a loud noise came from behind.
Triaden, looking haggard after staying up all night, opened the door. Sweat stuck to his eyes, shadows darkened his face, and hair clung to his pale cheeks, making him look even more exhausted.
Alperil immediately turned her body toward him, ready to fire questions, yet froze.
The merchant’s expression, already grim, stiffened further as he met her gaze. Words from his shadowed mouth were terrifying to anticipate. Fortunately, the tense wait did not last long.
“His Highness’s condition is better than expected. The abdominal wound was sutured well, and there’s nothing more to be done on the arm for now, but the nerves are likely unharmed. We still need to monitor for a few days.”
Considering the surgery had involved discussions of life and aftereffects, this was a very positive outcome. But before she could rejoice, she wanted to ask why Triaden still looked so grim.
“Then why—”
“Railey, stay inside.”
Alperil and the girl froze. The sharp voice demanded immediate compliance.
The merchant bowed slightly behind the fading footsteps. Alperil wanted to interrogate the situation further, but Triaden’s tense presence and sharp tone left her unable to respond.
“How much more do you intend to torment me?”
Startled by the sudden question, Alperil blinked and stammered a defense.
“Is that child also Lange-sama’s sibling? I-I didn’t do anything. Thanks to the child bringing me the blanket, we just exchanged a few words…”
The young man’s expression of despair deepened as he muttered quietly.
“How far do you need to dig into my flaws to be satisfied?”
